Premier League: 4 FanDuel Value Plays for Matchweek 24

Aleksandar Dragovic, left, is getting a chance to start for Leicester City, and his matchup against Watford makes him one of the value plays of the week.

An interesting seven-game Premier League slate awaits FanDuel players this weekend. Half of the top-six teams are on the slate after many were absent from recent Saturday schedules. That will push prices up for Matchweek 24.

Matchweek 24

Saturday, January 20th

Manchester United at Burnley

Crystal Palace at Arsenal

Bournemouth at West Ham

Watford at Leicester

West Brom at Everton

Newcastle at Manchester City

Huddersfield at Stoke

Sergio Aguero's $12,000 price tag is the costliest on the slate. In total, 21 forwards and midfielders are priced at or above $9,000. Manchester City and Manchester United players account for 33% of that total, with three United players priced just below that at $8,500.

Arsenal's Shkodran Mustafi tops the price list for defenders at $7,500. A total of 28 defenders are priced at or above $6,000.

The price gap between the anticipated starting keepers is again just $1,000.

Let's get to it.

Forward

Jay Rodriguez ($7,500): According to WhoScored.com, West Brom's Rodriguez is one of the top 20 in-form forwards with his play over the last three matches. He has an assist and two goals in his last four games across all competitions and has played at least 69 minutes in each of the last five matches.

Rodriguez should start versus Everton as part of a two-man attack. Everton are a team on a four-game losing streak across all competitions, allowing 10 goals in that span. Everton are also one of the worst defensive teams in the league in terms of shots allowed per game, giving up 15.0. Despite sitting ninth in the table, Everton have a -13 goal differential.

There is a chance that Rodriguez could miss out if the FA finds any wrongdoing for his actions with Gaetan Bong. If he is found to have made racist remarks, he will likely face a lengthy ban.

If he is suspended, then look across the pitch to Everton's new signing, Theo Walcott, who is priced at $7,000. He may not be up to play the full match, but Walcott has a lot to prove after barely getting on the field at Arsenal. West Brom have a -12 goal differential and allowed three goals to Stoke City, a team in the relegation zone with the Baggies, less than a month ago.

Midfielder

Mohamed Diame ($5,500): Make no mistake about it -- Newcastle's Diame is featured for his likelihood of racking up defensive action points as they face league-leaders Manchester City. Diame tends to put in more of a defensive shift than teammate Jonjo Shelvey in central midfield, so the nod goes Diame's way.

Diame has nearly 30 FanDuel points in his last two matches. He has been credited for eight tackles, two clearances, three interceptions, and two blocks in that timeframe. He scored 17 fantasy points points against Manchester City in the reverse fixture not too long ago, compiling 10 defensive actions.

City escaped that match with a 1-0 victory, and Newcastle are on a four-match unbeaten streak across all competitions since that loss. Diame will have to be active on the defensive end for Newcastle to play City that closely again.

Honorable mention goes to Crystal Palace's Bakary Sako at $6,500. He is still listed as a midfielder on FanDuel, but he is playing up top in a striker role and is on good form as the Eagles take on a disjointed Arsenal team.

Defender

Aleksandar Dragovic ($4,500): Leicester continue to struggle with injuries on its backline. Dragovic has been thrust into action, helping Leicester earn four points from a possible six in the past two matches.

With Wes Morgan and Robert Huth still out, the Bayer Leverkusen loanee should start in a favorable matchup with a struggling Watford side. Watford have six losses in their last nine games across all competitions. Watford did beat Leicester on Boxing Day, but Watford had only one shot on target (with a Kasper Schmeichel own goal sinking the Foxes).

This match is also at the King Power Stadium, a place where Leicester have taken points from 7 of 11 matches and have a positive goal differential.

Keeper

Jonas Lossl ($4,500): Only three expected starting keepers are priced at $4,500. At 12.1 FanDuel points per game, Huddersfield's Lossl has the highest points per game average of the three.

Huddersfield controlled the possession in the previous meeting between the teams, but Lossl was still called upon for four saves. That would be good for another 12 points, but a clean sheet possibility exists.

Douglas Smith is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Douglas Smith also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username aquemini03. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his/her personal views, he/she may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his/her personal account. The views expressed in his/her articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.